In an exclusive chat at the Beijing Forum, Michael Spence, president and provost of University College London (UCL), praised the Chinese mainland’s bold vision laid out in its proposed 15th Five-Year Plan.
From the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into daily life to a renewed focus on international talent development, Spence highlighted the plan’s potential to reshape healthcare, education and cross-border research.
“It’s incredibly important that we get technology right … explore the opportunities that are offered by things such as artificial intelligence,” Spence said, noting that AI could transform healthcare delivery for the mainland’s 1.4 billion residents—provided policymakers build public trust around data usage and remote care.
The 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly calls for deeper international collaboration, aiming to attract global talent and raise education standards. “Scientific endeavor has always been international,” Spence remarked, adding that joint efforts are “the only way that we’re going to advance” on challenges like climate change and food security.
UCL’s partnerships with mainland institutions have already borne fruit, from co-developed research labs to student exchange programs. Spence expressed hope that the plan’s emphasis on cooperation will open new doors: “The world, as a whole, will be better off if the cleverest people are working together on the technologies for the future.”
Beyond labs and lecture halls, Spence underscored the cultural impact of exchange: “In our global village, education and talent development are really the way of building a much more secure and harmonious future.”
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UCL president hails China's global vision in proposed five-year plan
cgtn.com
